Institute for a Democratic South Africa

Institute for a Democratic South Africa (IDASA) "is an independent public interest organisation committed to promoting sustainable democracy based on active citizenship, democratic institutions, and social justice." 

"IDASA was started in 1987 by van Zyl Slabbert former leader of the opposition and Alex Boraine, former Progressive Federal Party MP. What these CSOs (civil society organisations) have done is to put procedural democracy high up on the agenda for civil society, and for the nation, and to establish the terms of the debate. This is not surprising given the resources allocated to them by the international donor community. IDASA has received grants not simply of tens of thousands of dollars, but of $1 million. In 1996 it received $1.165 million from the Ford Foundation. This is an exceptionally large grant by the Foundation’s standards, which (827) normally provides grants from $200 000 to $50 000 to CSOs in Africa, and is by far the largest grant to any grantee in South Africa. At the same time IDASA received a $1 million grant from USAID for a two-year period. The South African Institute of Race Relations and the Institute for Multi-Party Democracy received similar grants from USAID over the same period." (Hearn, 2000, p.827-8)

Member of the Africa Democracy Forum.

Donors
Donors listed on their website are:
 * ADB Institute Japan
 * American University
 * Andrew Mellon Foundation
 * British Council
 * Centre for Budget & Policy Priorities
 * Department for International Development
 * Evangelisches Missionwerk in Deutschland
 * European Union
 * Finnish Embassy
 * Ford Foundation
 * Greater Pretoria Metropolitan council
 * Deutsche Gesellschaft fur Technische Zusammenarbeit
 * Joseph Rowntree Charitable Trust
 * Kellogg Foundation
 * Mott Foundation
 * Norwegian Embassy / NORAD
 * Norwegian Institute for Human Rights
 * Open Society Foundation for South Africa
 * Oxfam
 * Queens University
 * Royal Danish Embassy
 * Save the Children Sweden
 * Swedish Embassy
 * Swiss Development Agency
 * Symonds Travers
 * USAID
 * USIS
 * Westminster Foundation for Democracy
 * World Bank

Board
Accessed April 2010:


 * Chairperson: Professor Njabulo Ndebele
 * Deputy Chairperson: Dr James Leatt

Board Members


 * Andre du Toit
 * Lindiwe Ndlela
 * Jody Kollapen
 * Glenda Wlidschut
 * Paul Graham (Ex-officio)
 * Ivor Jenkins (Ex-officio)
 * Carol Tefu (Board Secretary)

Council Members


 * Pravin Gordhan
 * Nozipho January-Bardill
 * Mahmood Mamdani
 * Rose Mazibuko
 * Nomaindia Mfeketo
 * Ntombi Msimang
 * John Oucho
 * Mala Singh

Executive staff

 * Mr Paul Graham - Executive Director; Idasa; Pretoria
 * Mr Ivor Jenkins - Kutlwanong Democracy Centre manager; Idasa; Pretoria
 * Mr Vincent Williams -Cape Town Democracy Centre manager; Idasa; Cape Town

Non-Executive Board Chair - Professor Njabulo Ndebele -Cape Town

Board Members

 * Prof Andre du Toit
 * Mr Pravin Gordhan
 * Ms Nozipho January-Bardill
 * Mr Jody Kollapen
 * Dr James Leatt
 * Professor Mahmood Mamdani
 * Ms Rose Mazibuko
 * HE, Ms Nomaindia Mfeketo
 * Ms Ntombi Msimang
 * Prof John Oucho
 * Dr Mala Singh

Friends of Idasa US Board
Accessed April 2010:


 * Warren Krafchik
 * Alycia Kellman
 * Eric Brenner
 * Alfredo A. Carrasquillo
 * Ramon Daubon
 * Larry Diamond
 * Joseph Freeman
 * Harold H. Saunders
 * Hannah Britton
 * Mahmood Mamdani
 * Gary Hawes
 * Art Kaufman
 * Beatriz Casals
 * Shaila Gupta
 * Witney Schneidman
 * Paul Graham (ex-officio)
 * Ivor Jenkins (secretary)

Related SourceWatch Resources

 * South African Institute of Race Relations
 * Patricia Valdez - former director
 * Wilmot G. James - Former Executive Director
 * Janet Cherry
 * Dan McGrath

Contact

 * Web: http://www.idasa.org.za